A Tangled Tale Part 17

I have received more than one remonstrance on my a.s.sertion, in the Chelsea Pensioners' problem, that it was illogical to a.s.sume, from the _datum_ "70 p. c. have lost an eye," that 30 p. c. have _not_. ALGERNON BRAY states, as a parallel case, "suppose Tommy's father gives him 4 apples, and he eats one of them, how many has he left?" and says "I think we are justified in answering, 3." I think so too. There is no "must" here, and the _data_ are evidently meant to fix the answer _exactly_: but, if the question were set me "how many _must_ he have left?", I should understand the _data_ to be that his father gave him 4 _at least_, but _may_ have given him more.

I take this opportunity of thanking those who have sent, along with their answers to the Tenth Knot, regrets that there are no more Knots to come, or pet.i.tions that I should recall my resolution to bring them to an end. I am most grateful for their kind words; but I think it wisest to end what, at best, was but a lame attempt. "The stretched metre of an antique song" is beyond my compa.s.s; and my puppets were neither distinctly _in_ my life (like those I now address), nor yet (like Alice and the Mock Turtle) distinctly _out_ of it. Yet let me at least fancy, as I lay down the pen, that I carry with me into my silent life, dear reader, a farewell smile from your unseen face, and a kindly farewell pressure from your unfelt hand! And so, good night! Parting is such sweet sorrow, that I shall say "good night!" till it be morrow.

THE END

LONDON: RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, PRINTERS.

[TURN OVER.

WORKS BY LEWIS CARROLL.

ALICE'S ADVENTURES IN WONDERLAND.

With Forty-two Ill.u.s.trations by TENNIEL. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, price 6_s._ Seventy-fifth Thousand.

TRANSLATIONS OF THE SAME--into French, by HENRI BUe--into German, by ANTONIE ZIMMERMANN--and into Italian, by T. PIETROCLA ROSSETTI--with TENNIEL'S Ill.u.s.trations. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, price 6_s._ each.

THROUGH THE LOOKING-GLa.s.s, AND WHAT ALICE FOUND THERE. With Fifty Ill.u.s.trations by TENNIEL. Crown 8vo, cloth, gilt edges, price 6_s._ Fifty-sixth Thousand.

RHYME? AND REASON? With Sixty-five Ill.u.s.trations by ARTHUR B. FROST, and Nine by HENRY HOLIDAY. (This book is a reprint, with a few additions, of the comic portion of "Phantasmagoria and other Poems," and of "The Hunting of the Snark." Mr. Frost's pictures are new.) Crown 8vo, cloth, coloured edges, price 7_s._ Fifty Thousand.

A TANGLED TALE. Reprinted from _The Monthly Packet_. With Six Ill.u.s.trations by Arthur B. Frost. Crown 8vo, 4_s._ 6_d._

N.B. In selling the above-mentioned books to the Trade, Messrs.

Macmillan and Co. will abate 2_d._ in the s.h.i.+lling (no odd copies), and allow 5 per cent. discount for payment within six months, and 10 per cent. for cash. In selling them to the Public (for cash only) they will allow 10 per cent. discount.

MR. LEWIS CARROLL, having been requested to allow "AN EASTER GREETING"

(a leaflet, addressed to children, and frequently given with his books) to be sold separately, has arranged with Messrs. Harrison, of 59, Pall Mall, who will supply a single copy for 1_d._, or 12 for 9_d._, or 100 for 5_s._

MACMILLAN AND CO., LONDON.

LONDON: RICHARD CLAY AND SONS, PRINTERS.